Ugandan
military detains soldiers over
beating lawmakers and journalists

KAMPALA Uganda (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military on Thursday said it has
detained and questioned a number of soldiers for allegedly
torturing five lawmakers, scores of their supporters and
roughing up journalists.

Brig. Richard
Karemire, Uganda’s military spokesperson, said the soldiers were
questioned for torturing lawmakers Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi,
Francis Zaake, Gerald Karuhanga, Paul Mwiru, Kassiano Wadri and
28 others over the alleged stoning of President Yoweri
Museveni’s convoy on Aug. 13.

Karemire said other
soldiers are being held for roughing up journalists on Aug. 20
while covering riots in the capital Kampala sparked off by the
arrests of the lawmakers.

“The inquiry going
on will determine the way they will be brought to book. The CDF
(Chief of Defense Forces) promised that you (media and public)
will be informed (of action taken),” said Karemire.

Gen. David Muhoozi,
CDF on Aug. 22 ordered for the arrests and punishments of the
indisciplined officers who roughed up journalists covering the
riots that left one person dead and 173 others arrested.